Elect Fishel for city Zone 4

Skepticism of city, Council actions make him refreshing choice

Craig Fishel

The Springfield City Council needs representatives with deep roots in the community, a clear understanding of the issues facing the city and a vision for the city's future.

Craig Fishel would be that representative on the Council.

Fishel is in a three-person race to represent Zone 4 on the Council. The seat is currently held by Scott Bailes, who is not seeking re-election.

Fishel has lived in Zone 4 since 1959 and is a longtime business owner in Springfield. He has been involved in various construction projects and is owner of Fishel Pools.

That experience would translate into real-life knowledge of the city's role in business, including some negative experiences with the city's bureaucracy. Fishel promises to be an advocate for small-business owners.

In fact, it was a group of business owners who called on Fishel to consider running for City Council this year. While he says he has wanted to enter local politics for a long time, his current business situation - his son has taken over the day-to-day operations of Fishel Pools - provided Fishel with the time to devote to serving on the Council.

His background, skills and genuine interest in the community have earned him endorsements from the local firefighters union and the Springfield Good Government Committee - a political action committee that includes the chamber of commerce and the Home Builders Association.

But it is Fishel's openness about his own skepticism of the city's and Council's actions that make him a refreshing choice for City Council.

For example, he has kept up with the recent Walmart-requested zoning change, attending meetings on the subject and speaking with neighbors who support it, but is outspoken in his concerns about issues with traffic.

He questions the city budgeting on income projections alone and is adamant that the city use any "leftover" income to pay down the balance on the police and fire department pension fund. He promises to demand a "cost justification for everything."

His personal experiences with the sometimes lengthy and convoluted process of getting construction permits and following regulations have led him to pledge to push for better organization that would assign a single person to each application, handling it from beginning to end.

Fishel would bring his experience and energy to the Council and a clear idea of steps he would like to see the city accomplish. Those reasons make him our choice for Zone 4.

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Elect Fishel for city Zone 4

The Springfield City Council needs representatives with deep roots in the community, a clear understanding of the issues facing the city and a vision for the city's future.